It might not be official yet, but all
signs are pointing to a full-time race
drive for Valtteri Bottas with the
Williams F1 team next year.
Not only has the Finnish driver been
allocated 15 runs in Bruno Senna’s car
during Friday practice this season – the
first sign that Bottas, who is managed
by Williams investor Toto Wolff, would
be getting a race seat – but the team
have this week announced two new
sponsorship agreements with Finnish
companies.
The first deal is with Wihuri, a Finnish
business enterprise that has sponsored
Bottas since 2006, while the second
is with Kemppi, a Finnsh welding
manufacturer that has sponsored Bottas
since 2008.
“We are delighted to welcome Wihuri
to our portfolio of partners,” Sir Frank
Williams said of the Wihuri deal. “They
have provided considerable support to
Valtteri in his career thus far and to partner
with a company that shares a family
structure and strong heritage is greatly
satisfying. We are all looking for ward to
working with them in the future.”
But lest you think that Bottas’
promotion is more to do with funding and
connections than it is outright talent, it
should be noted that the young Finn has
out-performed Pastor Maldonado at three
of the four practice sessions the two
drivers have shared.
The much-maligned Venezuelan racer
silenced many of his doubters at the
weekend by securing pole position (via
Lewis Hamilton’s exclusion) and the race
win – Williams’ first in eight years!
The fact that Bottas has demonstrated
better pace on several occasions this
season despite his relative lack of
experience with the car bodes well for his
future with the Williams team.
Presuming that Bottas gets the widely
expected promotion – Bruno Senna is
on a one-year contract with Williams this
season – it will be the first time since
the 1994 Japanese Grand Prix that three
Finnish drivers have lined up on the
Formula One grid.
BOTTAS TO RACE FOR
WILLIAMS IN 2013
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